Advantech Bridges the Gap Between Control & Communication

Traditionally, control and communication in automation systems have been handled by separate devices. However, components providers are increasingly integrating more functionality into single devices to simplify the design of factory automation systems.

To that end, Advantech has launched a new controller that combines control technology with communications to make it easier to implement factory-wide data acquisition and control applications, according to the company. The APAX-6572, a new addition to the company’s APAX controller family, also is well-suited as an auxiliary control for unit operations.

The APAX-6572 controller from Advantech integrates three key aspects of automation -- computing, control, and communication -- into an open system architecture. (Source: Advantech)

The new controller integrates the three key aspects of automation -- computing, control, and communication -- into an open system architecture, according to Advantech. The controller also has a small footprint, allowing system designers to deploy control logics in a more compact environment, the company said on its website.

The APAX-6572 also allows for development in a range of programming language through its support for the IEC-61161-3 standard for LD, FBD, IL, SFC, C, C++ and C#, as well as .NET class libraries, according to Advantech. This gives programmers flexibility in using whatever language they prefer without having to switch languages between controllers.

Technology wise, the automation controller contains an Intel Atom D510 1.66GHz, 2GB RAM controller with three GbE LAN, two COM ports, one VGA, and four USB 2.0 ports. It also features onboard 2 GB DDR2 DRAM and supports real-time control tasks under Windows CE through ProConOS. The APAX-6572 also allows for various port configurations through four slots for expansion, the company said. Using these ports, system designers can install four APAX-5090P modules to provide a maximum of 18 COM ports; four APAX-5095P CAN port cards for a maximum of eight CAN ports; or a combination of the two. Customers also can apply a maximum of 32 APAX DA&C I/O modules to the this system for a maximum of 768 Digital I/O and 192 Analogue I/O points.

Additionally, the APAX-6572 includes technology to monitor the health of an automation system, including a feature called an Advanced Watch Dog Timer that provides alarms and self-healing before the system is reset, according to Advantech.

Also included in the controller is an Active Health Check feature that monitors the hardware and triggers alarms if there is a problem, and a backup system that can take over if the master system fails.

Components makers integration functions that were previously separate into microcontrollers and other key aspects of the automation system to make them easier to deploy and manage. This controller from Advantech is an example of that trend.

I know what you mean, Chuck, I feel the same way about a lot of things. I always use the smartphone as an example. But I guess at the time, it made sense to just have a phone for talking...and then a music player for music...and a GPS for GPS. So using that logic, it shows why functions might be separate. But I completely agree with you.

Coming from a mostly-electronics perspective, as I do, integrating functions does seem like a no-brainer. But a lot of control and automation mechanisms are, or have been, not easily integrated with electronics and/or driven by proprietary, closed software, like PLCs. So integration of functions there is happening a lot more slowly.

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